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Please, help me be Buddy's Best Friend

B

BuddysBestFriend

New member
Yeah, I'm a first time snake owner. I've done all the research, actually I'm still doing research, that's why I'm here. I've had buddy for two days now. I don't know his color since so many of the colors look alike to me. It doesn't matter, but I'll post it later. I decided to get a snake because I wanted to know if they feel anything other than fear and aggression. If they can be happy and loving.

I LOVE Buddy and I want to handle him all the time! He's so scared of everything though and he NEVER comes out of his hidebox. I took the hide box out for an hour. He was so cute (he covers his eyes with part of his body. I guess he doesn't like the light). He seems so nervous about everything. I know he's just a baby, but is there anything I can do to help him mellow out faster? I put my shirt over the cage so he gets used to my scent. I gently touch his head when I hold him to keep him from being head shy. He freaks everytime I move though and I just don't want him to have a heart attack or something. Any help is appreciated.
 
Well first of all welcome to the forum and the addiction :). I'd recommend letting him settle into his new environment for at least 5 days before attempting to handle him. just keep giving him fresh water. If he still seems scared give him a few more days, he'll be fearless in no time! :)
 
Agree with above, you are scarig him (not intentionally) young corns are skiddish, to him you are a big monster touching his head. He needs time and if he is really skiddish I wouldn't hold until he has had a few meals with you. Just put him in feeding box and back in tank. I know this is really hard to do but in the end it is the best thing for your hatchling. Also taking away is hide even briefly takes away his security.
 
Cornsnakes spend almost all of their time in their hidebox, especially babies. Leave him alone for a week, and as Susan suggests, maybe even until after he's eaten a few meals for you. When you handle him, he may freak out momentarily, but they usually calm down pretty fast. I wouldn't bother with purposely touching his head, though. They don't like to be restrained. When you're handling him, just let him crawl around your hands as he likes.

And no, he won't love you.
 
Agree with the above - hands-off for the moment while he's settling into his new home.

Snakes don't do "love" or "happy" in the cat or dog sense, but they do "recognising owner as safe and being relaxed when handled" and "eating and behaving normally", which are the nearest you'll get. You should be able to tell that all is well once you get used to each other.
 
Welcome! Buddy sees the world right now as a place full of potential predators. In nature, lots of things eat baby snakes. Staying hidden is his best way to protect himself, so that's what his instincts say to do. As others said, do let him settle in for several days before attempting to handle him. Letting him get used to your scent in your shirt is a good idea. Otherwise, don't try to handle him just yet. It's hard to be patient, but it pays off in the long run.

You mentioned the phrase "head shy." Just wondering, do you have horses? I do, and that's kind of a "horsey" phrase. For a corn snake, touching the head (or the tail) is interpreted as an attack; they're body areas that a predator would be likely to grab. Once Buddy is calm about being handled you can work on touching his head, if that's important to you.
He will come to trust you and know that he's safe with you - which is really cool when it happens. :)
 
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